Training with my Son

By Ric Drasin ‘The Equalizer’ AWF Champion

Growing up you take on hobbies and talents that you never knew interested you and you challenge yourself to see where you’ll go with it. Some you stay with and some you drop along the way. Such is life. I took up the guitar at the age of 14 and within a year had started a Rock Band and within 2 years was playing gigs every week end in High School and actually making money with it. I felt that if I could make that work, I could do anything. Within that time frame, I started working out with weights at the local YMCA and before I knew it , muscles started to develop all over my body. I thought this was amazing how I responded and decided to go ahead and train for some bodybuilding contests. I did and over the following few years won some local contests and had a great time with it. But one of the things that always stuck in my head was Pro Wrestling.

My Father introduced me to that on Thursday nights when I was a kid by taking me to the wrestling matches at a local arena. It was always packed and he always had free passes for the 3rd row back. Just beyond the spit & blood range! I loved going and in my mind thought, what if someday I’d like to do this. I wonder what my Father would think if I did. Would he be proud of me or disappointed that I would pick something like this to do? I think being a man, he probably would’ve enjoyed watching me. Well, what do you know? I was training in the gym one afternoon and I was then 20 yrs old when two wrestlers (who were in town for that Thursday show) came up to me and asked if I would like to get in the business of Pro Wrestling.

I jumped up ‘kicked my heels’ and said, are you kidding? Of course I’d like to, when do I start? They sent me to the Olympic Aud. in downtown Los Angeles where I met Mr. Moto, Buddy Killer Austin, Freddie Blassie and Jules Strongbow. They in turn took me across the hall to the ladies World Champion ‘Johnnie Mae Young’. She looked me up and down and said, you got a great body kid, now get in the ring and let’s see what you can learn. Two hrs. later I came out banged up with mat burns and sore. But, I liked it and came back 4 to 5 days a week for the following six months and then finally had my first match. Well now 34 years later, I have a son (Shane, 18 yrs. old).

I have become my Father and introduced Shane to wrestling, guitars and working out at a young age (5). Since that introduction, he became one of the finest guitarists around and now is playing with major artists and doing a lot of recording. Well, guess what else? He’s been training with weights along with me at Gold’s Gym for the past 5 years and has built an awesome body. In fact we do most everything together. Father and Son! What a treat and what a special relationship. Those parents who don’t have that are really missing out. I’m fortunate enough to have the time as an Actor and Pro Wrestler to spend these days with my son and share with him what I have done. I had a ring in my back yard for a few years and showed him the ‘tickles and tackles’ of wrestling and it sparked an interest.

Now I own the American Wrestling Federation and run shows in California at schools and clubs as fund raisers. This allows other local wrestlers to work in the business and also learn the ‘ropes’ so to speak. Well, Shane has built his body well enough and has trained hard enough in the ring to warrant working the shows. We had one of our first matches together last year in a Tag Team match. He did great and I was so very proud of him. His striking good looks, great body and athletic ability really dazzled the young girls in the audience.

Recently I worked ‘against’ him in a match in Northern California and it went great! Yep, he was my opponent! We work out with the weights 6 days a week and in the afternoons, (time permitting) we work out in the ring. I’m trying to polish him up. We have more shows coming up that he’ll be on as he’s worked hard for this and I had the pleasure of helping him. I’d like to add that my Father passed away when I was 18 and never had the luxury to spend that time with me or see me in Bodybuilding or Wrestling. I feel he really missed out on the Father and Son thing. It was unfortunate but that’s the way the cards fell. I have in turn passed my time on to Shane to let him know what a loving parent feels and to be able to fill his fantasies in life and live out his dreams. I know that he will carry the torch high through life as he’s a very special person and I’m glad that I had the time and opportunity to help him get there.

We have a show coming up soon and again I will work against him. (Good vs. Evil). But he’s safe with me, cause I’m his Dad! (Afterthought!) Hmmm, I do have an 8 year old daughter, ‘Hey Sami’, want to go see a Wresting Match ?

Ric Drasin 'The Equalizer'